This is our head brewer, Larry Chase. 
Larry likes craft beer.
Larry makes craft beer.
Larry advocates for craft beer.
And, yes, Larry drinks craft beer.

Larry just returned from his most recent trip to Boulder, Colorado to attend the quarterly Brewers Association Board Meeting. He was elected to the Board in 2012, and this year moved into a new position as Secretary/Treasurer and Finance Chair on the Executive Committee. Way to go, Larry! When he got back, we asked him all about the Brewers Association, what they do, and where his travels take him.

What does the Brewers Association Board of Directors do?

The BA Board of Directors is the governing body for the Brewers Association. We develop high level strategy and provide direction for the Brewers Association staff of 50 employees. In 2013, we met for a two-day strategic planning session where we refined the organization’s purpose and revised our mission looking forward past the year 2020. The big goal that came from this session is for craft brewers to have 20+% market share by 2020. Board members also chair and/or participate in one or more of the ten committees that do more specific work in conjunction with staff.

How often do you attend BA meetings?

The board has four meetings per year. The first meeting is always in late February in Boulder, CO where the Brewers Association has its headquarters. The second quarter meeting generally occurs in conjunction with SAVOR (SSBC was a participating brewery at SAVOR in 2012 & 2013) and the BA’s annual legislative Hill Climb in Washington, D.C. For the Fall and December meetings the board picks locales around the country where we can meet with local brewers and state guilds. 2014 included Kansas City and Los Angeles. This year we are headed to Portland, ME and Tampa, FL.

How were you elected to the Board in 2012?

The Board is comprised of Brewpub members, Packaging Brewery members, and At-Large members. In 2012 I ran for a Brewpub seat – the third time I had run – and was elected by other Brewers Association brewpub members. As some would say, third time’s a charm. The elected position is a three-year term, so if I’d like to continue on the Board I’ll need to run for election again in Fall 2015.

How has your role changed over the last few years?

One way the BA Board vets potential candidates is by looking for participation in committee work. Beginning in 2005 the Public Relations & Marketing committee is where I first began gaining experience with the work of the BA. In 2011, one year after I began working at Standing Stone, the BA created the Brewpub Committee in an effort to ensure the organization remained relevant to its brewpub members. I was an inaugural member of that committee, became vice-chair in early 2012, and briefly took over as chair in the latter half of 2014. Since mid-2012 I’ve worked on the Brewpub Server Training Manual subcommittee, and after almost three years we will be publishing Beer Server Training for Brewpubs – A Manual for Hiring, Training & Retaining Great People.

In 2011 I also joined the Finance Committee which is tasked with overseeing the financial side of the organization. Mark Edelson of Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant was the long-time chair of that committee as the Secretary/Treasurer of the organization. With his departure from the board at the end of 2014 the board requested that I take over his position. Beginning with our February 2015 meeting in Boulder, I am now a member of the Executive Committee in my position as Secretary/Treasurer and Finance Chair.

What else do you like to do when you’re in Boulder, CO?

Drink beer and hang out with BA staff members who have become friends. On this past trip Boulder received 13 wonderful inches of snow, so [my wife,] Ginger [of Women Enjoying Beer] and I went snowshoeing in Chatauaqua Park on the outskirts of Boulder.

Thanks for keeping us in the loop, Larry! Standing Stone is proud to have you as our brewer. Cheers!